Your Digest for Sunday, Jul 16, 2023 11:59 PM


![Neuroleptic malignant syndrome vs Serotonin syndrome.png](Neuroleptic malignant syndrome vs Serotonin syndrome.png) -



Haemostasis

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How to read this diagram:

  1. The quickest response to endothelial damange is formation of the platelet plug. Platelets roll off the exposed collagen and stick to it.
    1. The platelets bind to collagen - adhesion
    2. secrete their granules - activation
    3. bind to each other - aggregation
  2. Platelets form the primary haemostatic plug within about 1 minute. This needs to be stabilized by the coagulation cascade proteins.

Formation of the primary platelet plug

coagulation cascade and assessment

CoagulationCascade.png

[!INFO] Assessment of coagulation
PT - Extrinsic and common pathways
aPTT - Intrinsic and common pathways

vW disease

vWF is made by endothelium.
Roles:

  1. Platelet adhesion + aggregation (see [[#Formation of the primary platelet plug]]) -> Intrinsic pathway defect -> Prolonged APTT
  2. Transport of factor VIII. -> Low factor VIII levels

Commonest inherited bleeding disorder; usually autosomal dominant.
Mucosal bleeding.

Antiphospholipid syndrome - APS

Anticoagulants

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Source

Heparin induced thrombocytopaenia

Arises because heparin stimulates HIT antibody production.
Antibodies bind to PF4 on the platelet surface and stimulate platelet activation.

This results in thrombocytopaenia (platelets found to to antibodies are removed by the Reticuloendothelial system) - commonest manifestation.
Associated thrombosis (venous more than arterial) - around 50%, if untreated. Manifestations include pulmonary embolism, skin necrosis, limb gangrene. Arterial thrombi (MI, stroke) can also occur.

Bleeding is rare.

Onset is 5 - 10 days after onset of therapy.
Risk Heparin > fractionated heparin
High dose > low dose

"4 T" score is used to assess the likelihood of HIT.
Treatment: Stop heparin and start non heparin anti-coagulation


[!INFO] SUMMARY
Leukemia and Lymphoma are both cancers that are not associated with a tumor.
Lymphomas are cancers that affect the lymph system and start in cells called lymphocytes. They are divided into Non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphomas.

Leukemia is a cancer of the early blood-forming tissues, including your bone marrow and lymph system.

Leukemia typically involves white blood cells, the cells that are your infection fighters. Leukemia can be divided into categories: fast growing (acute) and slow growing (chronic); and by which white blood cells are affected.

![Pasted image 20230716212538.png](Pasted image 20230716212538.png)

*painless*, *rubbery*, cervical lymph node is the commonest presentation. 

[!TIP] Hodgkin's : Reed sternberg cell +, younger patient, slightly better survival


Fetal hemoglobin (Hb F; alpha2gamma2)
HbA2 (α2δ2)

Overall summary:
Beta thal major: has a lot of HbF
Thal trait = minor = very little HbF

As seen in the 'heterozygous' column, if there is at least one properly functioning beta gene, there will be very little HbF. "Mnemonic: The disease is not sever enough for the body to switch over to HbF production."

As seen in the table.below, thalassemia "trait" = heterozygous mutation

more terminology: intermedia and trait

ThalassemiaTerminology.png
Source

IMG_20230715_174419.jpg
Typical beta thalassemia trait investigation results: pastest Answers

++ /dev/null


Malaria red cell entry receptors:

Plasmodium falciparum invades human erythrocytes by redundant pathways
Unlike P. vivax that has one Duffy Binding-Like (DBL) receptor, P. falciparum has four members of the DBL receptor family.


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Causes of increased CPK

#2022BSQ Q31
CPK = CK.
Creatine Kinase is a catalyst for the formation of ATP from ADP via transfer of phosphate from creatine phosphate (which is an energy reservoir for muscle.
It is a very good indicator of muscle breakdown and it's progression.
CPK is eleminated by the Reticuloendothelial system. Serum level isn't elevated in kidney disease.

3 isoforms

Urine cultures

We went to get urine samples which contain bacteria which have managed to enter the bladder. (bacteria colonize the distal urethra and genital mucosa)
Theoretical best sample is first voided urine of the day as bacteria have had time to multiply overnight and it is also the most concentrated sample.
Suprapubic taps should yield sterile urine in a healthy patient.

Prostatic massage should be done prior to urine sample correction in suspected if chronic bacterial prostatis is suspected. Massage should be avoided in acute bacterial prostatits -> risk of bactiraemia!

Sample is cooled until it is send to the lab to prevent bacterial multiplication affecting the colony count.

Urine microscopye

pyuria

8 cells / microL = 2-5 cells per High power Field.
Very high associated with urinary infection.

White blood cell casts - renal infection = could be pyelonephritis.

Causes of sterile pyuria:


Pathology Appearance
Pleural plaque / bilterla diffuse pleural thickecking Pleural thickeking
Effusion Effusion (may indicated mesothelioma)
Mesothelioma Unilateral pleural effusion
Asbestosis bilateral diffuse streaky shadows, honeycomb lung